Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

Latest Alzheimer's & Dementia News and Research

Lifestyle changes show promise in preventing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease

An estimated 7.2 million Americans over age 65 currently live with Alzheimer's disease (AD). That number is expected to nearly double to 13.8 million by 2060.

16 Sep 2025

Study uncovers how the brain flexibly switches communication routes

When we recall something familiar or explore a new situation, the brain does not always use the same communication routes.

16 Sep 2025

Boosting PI31 to restore synaptic function and prevent neurodegeneration

One fundamental feature of neurodegenerative diseases is a breakdown in communication. Even before brain cells die, the delicate machinery that keeps neurons in touch-by clearing away protein waste at the synapses-starts to fail.

16 Sep 2025

Researchers develop a digital cognitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed a digital cognitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease that is intended for use in primary care.

15 Sep 2025

Researchers reveal why global gains against chronic diseases are stalling

Researchers analysed mortality data from 185 countries and found that while global non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths before age 80 declined from 2010 to 2019, progress slowed compared to 2001–2010. Gains were mainly from drops in heart disease and stroke, but rising burdens from diabetes, cancers, and neuropsychiatric conditions stalled momentum.

15 Sep 2025

Novel vitamin K analogs show promise for reversing neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons.

13 Sep 2025

Caregiver personas offer insights for improving dementia medication management

Understanding the strategies and unmet needs of caregivers managing medications for people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may improve the lives of both caregivers and patients.

13 Sep 2025

Under Trump, FDA seeks to abandon expert reviews of new drugs

FDA leaders under President Donald Trump are moving to abandon a decades-old policy of asking outside experts to review drug applications, a move critics say would shield the agency's decisions from public scrutiny.

12 Sep 2025

UCL launches landmark trial of Alzheimer’s blood test

A major UCL-led clinical trial, aiming to transform the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through a simple blood test, is now welcoming its first participants who will be recruited via memory clinics across the UK.

11 Sep 2025

Object recognition shapes spatial awareness in the brain

We take our understanding of where we are for granted, until we lose it. When we get lost in nature or a new city, our eyes and brains kick into gear, seeking familiar objects that tell us where we are.

11 Sep 2025

BU professor wins RF1 $3.2M grant for age-related neuropathology research

Tara Moore, PhD, professor of anatomy & neurobiology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has been awarded a five-year, RF1 $3.2M grant from the NIH's National Institute of Aging for her project "Extracellular vesicle treatment and age-related neuropathology in non-human primates."

11 Sep 2025

Compact bNIRS technology could become a diagnostic toolkit for dementia

Early and accurate diagnosis of dementia remains a major challenge. Standard approaches such as MRI and PET scans can provide valuable information about brain structure and function, but they are expensive, not always accessible, and often too expensive for repeated use.

11 Sep 2025

SLIT2 protein levels in the eye and blood linked to cognitive function

Neurocognitive impairments are classified by pathological changes with potential for destruction of neural tissue. One change known to occur in neurodegenerative disorders is an accumulation of proteins causing pathological damage.

11 Sep 2025

Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age-along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans-than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Sep 2025

Rare ABCA7 gene variants linked to Alzheimer’s risk

A new study from MIT neuroscientists reveals how rare variants of a gene called ABCA7 may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's in some of the people who carry it.

10 Sep 2025

Can video game–style exercise slow Alzheimer’s risk?

Gamified exercise training improves hippocampal volume and cognitive performance in mild neurocognitive disorders, offering potential for dementia prevention.

10 Sep 2025

Special MRI technique predicts onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline

A special MRI technique that detects iron levels in different regions of the brain can predict the onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired older adults, potentially creating a pathway to earlier interventions, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

9 Sep 2025

Dementia risk rises sharply with multiple psychiatric disorders

The odds of developing dementia are strongly linked to the number of co-existing mental health disorders, rising from twice as high for one disorder to 11 times as high for four or more, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

9 Sep 2025

Changing indoor environments could improve sleep for people living with dementia

Implementing changes to indoor environments, such as cooler bedrooms at night and increasing the amount of bright light during the day, could significantly improve sleep for people living with dementia, according to a study led by the University of Surrey.

9 Sep 2025

Berberine improves cognitive function in diabetic encephalopathy mice

A recent study published in Engineering has shed new light on the potential therapeutic effects of berberine (BBR), a natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, in treating diabetic encephalopathy (DE).

9 Sep 2025